Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as a prognostic biomarker for patients with preterm labor in late stage of pregnancy / 实用医学杂志

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the association between maternal serum lev-el of neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio(NLR)and preterm labor in late stage of pregnancy. Methods In this retrospec-tive analysis of 200 pregnant women who underwent routine prenatal examination and delivered from January 12016 to December 312016 in the Maternal and Child Health family planning services,Xinhui District,Jiangmen city. The patients were divided into the PIR group(n = 100)and the control group(n = 100). The levels of leuko-cytes,neutrophils,lymphocytes,CRP and NLR of the two groups were compared. Multivariate analysis was per-formed to identify independent risk factor. Logistic regression model was established and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve(ROC)was recorded for analysis of the prognostic value of different serum inflamma-tory makers in late stage of pregnancy. Results The NLR predict premature occurrence of AUC,the sensitivity and specificity of which were higher than those of peripheral blood leukocyte,neutrophil count,lymphocyte count and CRP. Conclusion Increased NLR in late stage of pregnancy could serve as an effective factor to predict the risk of preterm labor.

Research progress of gut microbiota and microbiota-targeted therapy in critical ill patients / 中华危重病急救医学

In physiological conditions, a diverse microbiota might enhance host defense. However, the gut microbiota of critically ill patients is characterized by lower diversity, lower abundances of key commensal genera, and overgrowth by one bacterial generation, a state known as dysbiosis. Increasing evidences indicate that microbiota-derived components can reach the systemic circulation from the gut and modulate immune homeostasis. Dysbiosis could have greater consequences for the critically ill patients and might contribute to poor outcome. In this review, we highlighted the crucial role of intestinal microbiota in systemic homeostasis in the critically ill patients and summarized emerging evidence in the field of microbiota-targeted therapies. This would provide new perspective for further establishing the causes and consequences of dysbiosis found in the critically ill patients as well as developing new strategies of intervention.

Prognostic significance ofneutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratioin ovarian cancer:A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies / 实用医学杂志

Objective To obtain a more accurate assessment of prognostic significance of NLR in ovarian cancer. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted using the electronic databases PubMed ,Web of Science,and Embase up to May 2016. Hazard ratio(HR)and odds ratio(OR)with 95% confidence interval (95%CI)were calculated. Statistical analysis was performed using Stata 12.0. Results 12 studies,consisting of 3 ,854 patients ,were selected in this meta-analysis. High NLR level was significantly associated with poorer overall survival(OS)(HR:1.69)and shorter progression free survival(PFS)(HR 1.63). Additionally,increased NLR was significantly correlated with advanced FIGO stage(OR 2.32),higher level of CA-125(OR 3.33),more extensive ascites(OR 3.54)as well as less chemotheraputic response(OR 0.53). Conclusions Elevated pretreat-ment NLR can serve as a predicative factor of poor prognosis for ovarian cancer.